Kai Havertz Biography: Net Worth, Age, Career, Records, Family, Achievements!
Kai Havertz is a German professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Premier League club Chelsea and the Germany national team.
Considered one of the most promising young players in world football, Havertz broke into Bayer Leverkusen’s first team as a teenager and quickly established himself as a key player.
In 2020, he completed a transfer to Chelsea worth up to £70 million, setting the record for the highest fee received by a Bundesliga club.
At just 23 years old, Havertz has already achieved major success at club and international level. He helped Leverkusen qualify for the Champions League and reach the DFB-Pokal final. For Germany, he was part of the squad that won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2021.
This article will provide a detailed look at Havertz’s life and career so far. It covers his background, how he rose through the youth ranks, his playing style, achievements, net worth and personal life. There is also a section answering some of the most frequently asked questions about the Chelsea star.
Background and Early Life
Kai Lukas Havertz was born on 11 June 1999 in Aachen, Germany.
He grew up in the village of Mariadorf, located just outside Aachen. His parents were both passionate about football, with his father Jürgen serving as a youth coach at local amateur club Alemannia Mariadorf.
From a young age, Havertz stood out for his intelligence, technique and goalscoring prowess. He joined the youth academy of top-flight club Alemannia Aachen at the age of just 11 in 2010.
After starring for Aachen’s various youth teams, Havertz made the switch to Bayer Leverkusen in 2016. The Bundesliga club are renowned for their excellent youth development and Havertz thrived after making the move.
Rise Through Bayer Leverkusen Youth Ranks
Havertz immediately impressed after joining Leverkusen and was fast-tracked through the club’s youth system.
In 2016-17, while still only 17, he was scoring freely for Leverkusen’s Under-19 side in the UEFA Youth League. Havertz ended the season with five goals in eight appearances as Leverkusen reached the semi-finals.
The talented teenager was then promoted to the Bayer Leverkusen II team that competed in the fourth-tier Regionalliga West. He continued to dominate at this level, scoring 17 goals in 29 matches.
Such striking form for the reserve side earned Havertz his first-team debut for Leverkusen on 15 October 2016. Aged just 17 years and 126 days, he became the club’s youngest-ever Bundesliga debutant.
The attacking midfielder grasped his chance in the Leverkusen first team, scoring four goals in his first full season in 2017-18. His rapid rise was earning rave reviews back in Germany.
Breakthrough With Bayer Leverkusen
The 2018-19 campaign was when Havertz truly announced himself on the big stage. Aged just 19, he played every game as Leverkusen finished in a Champions League qualification spot.
Havertz contributed an impressive 20 goals and seven assists in all competitions. The young star showed maturity beyond his years, evidencing deadly finishing, slick skills and intelligent link-up play.
His performances saw him crowned as the Bundesliga’s Breakthrough Player of the Season. Havertz also earned his first cap for the German national team in September 2019.
In 2019-20, Havertz reached even greater heights as he guided Leverkusen to another top six finish. He scored 18 goals, setting up a further nine, to earn his second successive Bundesliga Breakthrough Player award.
The coronavirus pandemic disrupted the season, but Havertz signed off his Leverkusen career nicely. He scored twice in the DFB-Pokal semi-final defeat to Bayern Munich, earning Leverkusen’s Player of the Season prize.
Transfer to Chelsea
After scoring 46 goals in 150 appearances for Leverkusen, Europe’s elite clubs were scrambling for Havertz’s signature.
In July 2020, Premier League side Chelsea announced they had agreed a deal worth up to £70 million for the German starlet. It broke the Bundesliga transfer record for the highest fee received.
At Stamford Bridge, Havertz was handed the prestigious number 29 shirt, previously worn by Chelsea greats such as Gianfranco Zola.
Havertz has admitted it took time to adjust to the Premier League’s high intensity. But he finished his debut 2020-21 campaign strongly, scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final versus Manchester City.
The following season, Havertz excelled under new Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel. He repaid more of his transfer fee by scoring the opening goal in Chelsea’s triumph over Palmeiras in the FIFA Club World Cup final.
Still only 23, Havertz is now an established member of Chelsea’s star-studded squad. His elegance, technical brilliance and big game mentality have made him a favourite at Stamford Bridge.
Playing Style
Standing at 6 ft 2 in tall, Havertz combines impressive physical traits with outstanding technical quality.
He has most often been deployed as an attacking midfielder during his career, but can also operate as a winger or centre forward.
Havertz is a superb all-round attacker. He possesses composure and precision in front of goal along with creativity and vision to carve out chances.
With his size and skill, Havertz is also a dominant force in the air. He has superb aerial ability and offers a significant goal threat from set pieces.
Despite his tall frame, Havertz is also exceptionally nimble on the ball. His dribbling and close control allows him to glide gracefully past opponents.
Intelligence is another of the German’s key assets. His excellent positional awareness and spatial understanding enables him to find dangerous pockets of space from which to hurt teams.
Career Achievements and Accolades
Despite being just 23, Havertz’s trophy cabinet already contains some of club football’s most coveted prizes:
- UEFA Champions League: 2020–21
- UEFA Super Cup: 2021
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2022
At international youth level, Havertz contributed four goals in five games as Germany won the UEFA Under-21 Championship in 2021.
On an individual level, his consistent excellence has been acknowledged with several awards:
- Bundesliga Rookie of the Season: 2017–18
- Two-time Bundesliga Breakthrough Player of the Season: 2018–19, 2019–20
- Bayer Leverkusen Player of the Season: 2019–20
- Chelsea Player of the Season: 2021–22
If Havertz can maintain his rapid progress, many more honours will surely follow in the years to come.
Net Worth and Endorsements
According to multiple reports, Kai Havertz’s current net worth is estimated at around £26 million.
As one of the Bundesliga’s top performers, Havertz earned a significant salary even early in his career at Leverkusen. But his transfer to Chelsea in 2020 saw his earnings rise even further.
Havertz now has a £310,000 per week salary at Chelsea, equating to over £16 million per year. Such lucrative wages make him one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League.
The attacking midfielder also has a growing portfolio of endorsement deals and sponsorship contracts. Havertz has been sponsored by sportswear giant Adidas since 2017.
Other personal sponsors include smartphone company Vivo Mobile and EA Sports, who feature Havertz on the cover of their FIFA video game series.
As his fame and commercial appeal continues increasing, Havertz’s wealth will likely keep rising rapidly in the coming years.
Family and Personal Life
Born in Aachen, Havertz remains very close to his parents Jürgen and Astrid and two younger brothers Jonas and Janis.
He has been in a long-term relationship with German model Sophia Weber since 2020. The couple reportedly split time between London and Germany.
Away from football, Havertz has a passion for cars and music. He has posted videos jamming on the piano and guitar. The German also enjoys playing FIFA and Call of Duty in his spare time.
Despite his growing fame, Havertz has remained grounded. In interviews he comes across as humble and down to earth. He maintains close ties to his local community and childhood friends.
Havertz speaks out on issues like racism and inequality. He has advocated for greater acceptance, quoting Nelson Mandela that “no one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin.
Conclusion
In summary, Kai Havertz is undoubtedly one of the most gifted young footballers in the world today. At just 23 years of age, he has already achieved more than most players do in their entire careers.
After joining Bayer Leverkusen’s academy as a child, Havertz rapidly rose through the youth ranks thanks to his sublime natural ability. As a teenager he broke into the senior side, establishing himself as Leverkusen’s star player and a full German international.
A record-breaking £70 million transfer to Chelsea in 2020 marked the start of the next chapter in Havertz’s journey. He overcame initial adaptation struggles to play a vital role in Chelsea’s Champions League final triumph.
Under Thomas Tuchel’s guidance, the versatile forward has added more trophies to his collection, while his value to Chelsea continues to grow. Havertz boasts an exquisite blend of technical brilliance, intelligence, creativity and big-game composure.
If Havertz can maintain his current skywards trajectory, he is surely destined to become one of the finest German attacking talents of his generation. With most of his career still ahead of him, the best may be yet to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Kai Havertz?
Kai Havertz is currently 23 years old. He was born on 11 June 1999 in Aachen, Germany.
What position does he play?
Havertz is an attacking midfielder but can also play as a winger or centre forward. He is known for his versatility in attack.
How much did Chelsea pay to sign him?
Chelsea signed Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 for a club record fee of £70 million. The deal could rise to as much as £90m based on bonuses.
What shirt number does Havertz wear?
Havertz wears the number 29 shirt for Chelsea, the same number as former star Gianfranco Zola. For Germany, he wears number 7.
What trophies has he won with Chelsea?
Havertz has won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup during his time at Chelsea so far. He scored the winner in the 2021 Champions League final.
Is Havertz on social media?
Yes, Havertz is active on popular social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter. His username on both sites is @kaihavertz29.
What are his main strengths as a player?
Havertz’s main strengths are his technical ability, intelligence, height, composure, and versatility in attack. He also has excellent vision and is a goal threat from open play or set pieces.
How many caps does he have for Germany?
So far in his career, Havertz has earned 30 senior international caps for the German national team. He scored his first international goal against Argentina in October 2019.
Is he married or does he have kids?
No, Kai Havertz is not married. He has been in a long-term relationship with model Sophia Weber since 2020 but they are not married. Havertz also does not have any children yet.
